2016 Issue

In August 1855, David H. Burr, first U.S. Sur- veyor-General of Utah used the initial point established byOrson Pratt as the initial point of public land surveys in Utah. He preserved the point with a stone monument. A replica stone is still stands in that position. On September 30, 1869, an astronom- ical station, with a stone base which still stands 100 feet north and 50 feet west of the ini- tial by George W. Dean, U.S.C. &G. Survey. This monu- ment was used for the purpose of determining true latitude and longitude. The station was also used to obtain correct time at the initial point until December 30, 1897. Because of conflict between Utah Territory and the federal government, the first land office was not opened in Utah until 1869. For the first 22 years after settlement the national land system did not extend to Utah Territory, but the Utah Territorial As- sembly governed land ownership in Utah. The territorial government established methods of surveying and acquiring title. These practices and the documents they created were recognized in Utah Territory, but did not provide Utah settlers with fed- erally recognized legal title to land. The territorial government also established county recorders as keepers of land re- cords, and in 1888 the Territorial Assembly defined certain indexes and finding aids which county recorders were thereafter required to keep. There are many accounts of early explorers and surveyors of the state of Utah. Several of the cities and landmarks throughout the State bear the name of these surveyors. Most of Utah landmarks, streams and lakes were named by them. The impact that these adventurous surveyors and explorers had on the state is undeniable. Every parcel of land and every property owner in the state of Utah is in some way, and will always be, affected by the work of these surveyors who laid the ground work for "The History of Surveying in Utah.” Utah Division of Archives and Records, Original Land Titles in Utah Territory. Utah History Encyclopedia, Exploration in Utah Wikipedia , Orson Pratt. Utah History – Utah.com , Trails and Trailblazers. Salt Lake Base & Meridian Initilal Point Monument at Temple Square 1869 Astronomical Station SALT LAKE STORE 612 Confluence Ave Murray UT 84123 (801)262-0066 Sales, Service Supplies and Rental www.rmtlaser.com (801)262-0066 Rocky Mountain Transit has been serving Utah and Nevada for over 25 years. We are a full line Topcon Machine Control and Survey Dealer. We also proudly represent products from Spectra Precision, Leica, Seco, PLS, Aervoe and many more. From flagging and paint to Machine Control and 3D Laser Scanning, our Professional Sales staff has you covered! 63